Burglary ring that targeted Asian American business owners busted by federal agents.

A burglary ring that targeted New Jersey Asian American business owners was the latest criminal gang busted by federal agents.

Eight members of an interstate burglary crew were charged for their roles in a conspiracy that targeted homeowners of Asian descent for residential burglaries, Acting U.S. Attorney Rachael A. Honig announced Tuesday, May 25.

Rabine Armour of Easton, Pennsylvania; Kevin Burton of Newark; Kevin Jackson of Rahway, New Jersey; Thomas Rodgers of Newark; James Hurt of Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania; Sherman Glasco of Bethlehem, Pennsylvania; Randi Barr of Irvington, New Jersey; and Terrance Black of Irvington, New Jersey, are charged by complaint with conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property. 

Burton is also charged with one count of being a felon in possession of a firearm, and conspiring with Keesha Davis, of Elizabeth, New Jersey, to tamper with evidence. The defendants will appear by videoconference today before U.S. Magistrate Judge James B. Clark III.

As alleged in the complaint, these defendants were part of a sophisticated, multi-state burglary crew that targeted the homes of business owners of Asian descent, intending to steal the cash proceeds of their businesses as well as jewelry, foreign currency, and other property,” Acting U.S. Attorney Honig said. 

“A comprehensive investigation led by our partners at the FBI and aided by the cooperation of local law enforcement revealed the links among over 50 residential burglaries and thereby uncovered this scheme. As a result of this careful investigative work, the defendants now face federal charges for their actions.” 

“These defendants allegedly carried out a brazen conspiracy based on stereotype and opportunity,” Special Agent in Charge George M. Crouch Jr. said. “It is fitting that these arrests come at a time when society is raising awareness regarding crimes against our Asian American citizens.”

Law enforcement officials identified eight members of an interstate burglary crew responsible for more than 50 home burglaries. 

Armour, Burton, and Jackson were arrested in Old Bridge, New Jersey, and Barr was arrested in Hazlet, New Jersey, during burglaries in progress. 

Searches of Armour’s and Burton’s residences revealed tens of thousands of dollars in United States currency and currency from Asian countries, jewelry, family heirlooms, and other valuables that were previously reported stolen by victims. 

According to court documents, while searching vehicles used in the commission of burglaries, authorities  recovered notes containing the home addresses of individuals of Asian descent with derogatory descriptive terms to identify the ethnicity of the homeowners.

A subsequent investigation of the contents of communications obtained from Armour and Burton’s cellular telephones, in addition to location data associated with crew members’ phone numbers, led law enforcement to identify other conspirators, including Glasco, Hurt, Black, and Rodgers. In comparing communications, location information, and recovered stolen property with known burglaries matching the methods employed by the burglary crew, law enforcement was able to link the defendants with numerous residential burglaries of homes owned by Asian Americans.

Law enforcement officials learned that unlawful entry into the homes was often made through unsecured second-floor windows; the victims’ cars were burglarized at their respective places of business in order to ascertain the homeowners’ addresses from the vehicles’ documents; makeshift trackers were placed on victims’ vehicles; the crew looked for indications of occupancy of homes by individuals of Asian descent; and once inside, the crew sought out cash, jewelry, and firearms.

The charge of conspiracy to commit interstate transportation of stolen property carries a maximum potential penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, or twice the amount of money involved in the offense, whichever is greater.

Asian Americans have been targets of burglary and home invasions in recent years. 

Authorities arrested three suspects in April for burglarizing 26 Asian American business owners in Colorado and Wyoming. All three suspects have been charged with racketeering, conspiracy and multiple counts of burglary and theft/criminal mischief, according to CBS Denver.

A Texas-based ring was busted in 2019 and earlier this month its leader was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Other members of the gang await sentencing. This group conducted a series of violent home invasions, tying up the Asian American occupants while searching their residences. 

Both the Texas and New Jersey operations based their criminal activities in the belief that Asian Americans distrusted financial institutions like banks and had large amounts of cash and jewelry stashed in their homes.

While the crimes occurred several years ago, many in the Asian American community say it adds anxiety in light of the uptick in Asian hate seen nationwide.

Lu-in Wang, a professor at the University of Pittsburgh School of Law who has studied crimes of opportunity against Asians, said choosing victims based on  stereotypes could be the reason for the proliferation of operations targeting Asian Americans at their homes.

Criminals might assume that Asian business owners or home owners would be easy targets who likely would have cash or valuable jewelry stored in their homes or would be reluctant to involve the police because of language barriers.

“We’re targeting you because we think you’re an easy target,” Wang said. “That can make people feel even more vulnerable than ‘We’re choosing you based on hate.’”

Hank Azaria: Fixing the Simpson's Apu is 'The right thing to do'

ASAM NEWS

HANK AZARIA, the voice of Apu in The Simpsons, appeared apologetic this week for his portrayal of Apu, a character of Indian descent with a stereotypical accent.
Azaria told Stephen Colbert on The Late Show, “It was certainly not my intention [to cause offense with his portrayal of Apu]. I wanted to spread laughter and joy with this character and the idea that it was used to marginalize people, it’s upsetting, genuinely.”

Shortly after hearing Azaria’s comments, Hari Kondabalu, producer of the documentary, The Problem with Apu, sent a tweet praising Azaria for his remarks.

Azaria distanced himself from a recent controversial Simpson’s episode when the show’s creators seemed to be indifferent to Kondabalu’s concerns.

APU

“The idea that anyone young or old, past or present, being bullied based on Apu really makes me sad,” Azaria said, according to the BBC.

Kondabalu’s documentary sparked a wide range of reaction ranging from praise to indifference.

Kondabalu spent a great amount of time in his documentary trying to get Azaria to speak to him. At one point, Azaria seemed opened to the idea, but it never happened.

Azaria’s interview on The Late Show marks a major turning point.

Among the notable things he said:

“I really want to see Indian, South Asian writers in the writers room… including how [Apu] is voiced or not voiced.

“I’m perfectly willing and happy to step aside, or help transition it into something new.

“It not only makes sense, it just feels like the right thing to do to me.”

Azaria's apologetic response is in contrast to one of The Simpsons creators. Asked if he had any response to the criticisms raised in The Problem With Apu and after its release, Simpsons creator Matt Groening delivered a less-than-stellar answer to USA Today.

"Not really," he said. "I’m proud of what we do on the show. And I think it’s a time in our culture where people love to pretend they’re offended."

He wants the show to "speak for itself," he said. That happened already, but — much like Groening's chat with USA Today — it wasn't much of a response, but what you would expect from a white man who has no idea of the pain his racial blindness can cause.

Many fans felt let down earlier in April when the show addressed the Apu controversy head-on, sort of. It starts with the Marge character reading Lisa an old bedtime story that's been updated for a more politically correct age. Lisa isn't a fan of the changes.

"Something that started decades ago and was applauded and inoffensive is now politically incorrect. What can you do?" As she finishes her comment, the camera pans over to a framed photo of Apu.

"Some things will be dealt with at a later date," Marge responded. "If at all," Lisa added, as both turn and look directly into the "camera."

Basically, the Simpsons' creators gave the middle finger to you "complainers."

We'll see what happens next ... if anything. And, I ain't pretendin'!

(Additional reporting by Views From the Edge to update.)
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Amazon pulls costume perpetuating Chinese stereotype

This ad and costume was featured on Amazon.

ASAM NEWS

Walmart's racist costume

AN AD showing a boy wearing a Chinese costume while pulling his eyes back has been pulled from Amazon following backlash from the internet, reports the Mirror.

The costumes were sold by third party companies Atosa and Fyasa.

We Are Resonate reports neither company has issued an apology.

Amazon issued a one line statement saying “The products in question have been 

removed.”

Meanwhile, Walmart.com is facing criticism for it’s China Boy costume.

While there is no slant-eyed gesture in the ad, many remarked the costume’s name is too close to the racial slur Chinaman.

"Breakthrough" actor James Shigeta passes away

James Shigeta and Flower Drum co-star Myoshi Umeki.

ONE OF the few Asian American actors in the last half-century who could play leading-man roles passed away today (July 29) at the age of 81. Here's the article about James Shigeta from the Daily Variety http://variety.com/2014/film/news/james-shigeta-dies-at-81-1201270730/. 

Shigeta played a lot of movie roles throughout the years - hero, villain, spear-carrier, etc. - and to his credit, he never had to resort to portraying a stereotype.

The role that he is best known for and the one that had the most impact on me was the musical "Flower Drum Song." Originally a Broadway musical, it was released as a motion picture in 1961, The musical and movie were not what we would call "politically correct." It had so many things wrong with it from a 21st century perspective. However, as a young boy, it was a revelation to see an all-Asian cast up on the silver screen singing and dancing and being (so anti-Asian stereotype) - gasp - sexy!

Having Nancy Kwan perceived as sexy is a no-brainer. Who can forget her brash, aggressive performance of "I Enjoy Being A Girl?" American culture has always linked Asian women to sex as in a provocative and sometimes demeaning way-- either as the Dragon Lady or as the exotic creature that will willingly do anything to satisfy men's needs.

But along came Shigeta, a handsome leading man with his deep, sexy voice and presence. He made women swoon. He went against the grain of our society's image of Asian males -- unsexy, geeky and unattractive. With our unfortunate pop-culture tendency to turn screen heroes into role models, Shigeta was the only male role model who looked a little bit like me and a whole generation of Asian boys.

Yeah, "Flower Drum Song," written by two white guys, Oscar Hammerstein and Richard Rogers, was a bit cheesy but it was also groundbreaking in its use of an Asian cast instead of having white actors play the roles in yellow-face and taped-back eyes. Credit the producers for insisting on Asian actors, singers and dancers play the roles.

What was amazing was that the rest of the populace, no matter what race, was also drawn to the musical and its story of culture clash, mistaken identity and love-overcoming-all. Somehow, along the way, despite its financial success, Hollywood never attempted anything like it again.

Thank you Mr. Shigeta for being a bright light as I came of age. He was a reminder that we can aspire to be more than the "acceptable professions" of doctors, engineers or businessmen (or, in my case, an architect). We can take risks. We can be actors, artists, poets, writers, singers, dancers or whatever else we want to be.

Is America ready for a TV show with Asian leads?

Could ABC's new television show featuring an Asian American family be the series I've been waiting for since the 1950s? I'm hoping it is.

All props to Mindy Kaling for "The Mindy Project" but I suspect mainstream America never thought of her as Asian after her long run in "The Office." There are two ways to battle stereotypes: one is to play down the differences demonstrating that we're all the same with the same flaws, same wants, and same dreams and goals; the other way is to bust the stereotypes wide open.

The Mindy Project depicting a young woman looking for love, looking for respect and career success, clearly is using the former approach. From the looks of the trailer and other sneak peeks, FOB is going for the latter approach.

The sitcom is based on the childhood of chef and restaurateur Eddie Huang as he grew up in Orlando, Florida in the 1990s. "Little Eddie," (how can you not like that name?) is also a bling-wearing, swearing hip-hop fanatic, a far cry from the nerd stereotype most caucasian Americans have of Asian students. The lead character is the son of fellow blogger Jeff Yang and he writes:

"The show is like nothing you will have ever seen before on television. If it makes it to the air, it will blow minds, raise eyebrows and, to quote a line that my son says as Little Eddie, 'change the game.'" A game-changer, eh? That's a lot to put on one single show. But if you consider the scarcity of Asian roles on TV and the movies, much less, fully-rounded characters, its hard not to think in those terms.

I remember the first attempt - "All American Girl" starring Margaret Cho. That was a dismal failure when producers tried to turn Cho into an all-American girl. It didn't last a season and is one of the big regrets of the comedienne.

I faithfully watched it, even when it wasn't funny, out of loyalty and eagerness to see it succeed, as if I counted in the Nielsen ratings.
Since then, a few inroads have been made by Asian actors, but roles for Asian actors have been far and few between and never as the main roles.

I may seem to make too much of media portrayals of Asians but the media -- TV, movies, commercials and print --- is where most Americans gain their impressions of unfamiliar situations, countries and people -- even if it's crazy and fantastic. There are people out there who are preparing for a zombie apocalypse, for goodness sake!

But more importantly, the media is where stereotypes are born and reinforced. The quiet, studious image is one that I've fought against all my life. Not that that's a negative stereotype, but there is so much more to individuals that people overlook because of the first impression that's made. Many times, that first impression is made before they even meet you ... because of that damn stereotype playing on the silver screen or the boob tube: always the sidekick, not the hero; always the doctor's assistant, not the surgeon; always the submissive one, not the leader; the friend, but not the best friend; always the nerd, not the hiphop fanatic.

Its taken 20 years for a major network to attempt an Asian family comedy again. And I'll probably watch it out of loyalty and curiosity. For sure I'll be pulling for it. I just hope its funny and the audience is laughing "with" -- not "at" -- the characters.

The month of May is . . .

I'd be remiss not to mention that May is Asian/Pacific American Heritage Month. Let's hope next year at this time we'll be talking about the second season of Fresh Off the Boat.

The cast of "Fresh Off the Boat." Will non-Asians be able to relate?